Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Leonard Vialpando
Department: Public Works and Environmental Services
Division: Housing and Urban Planning Division
Information
Requested Action
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A. MOTION TO AUTHORIZE County Administrator to execute grant funding agreements with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") for the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Community Development Block Grant ("CDBG") Program in the amount of $3,978,959, HOME Investment Partnerships ("HOME") Program in the amount of $3,998,081, and the Emergency Solutions Grants ("ESG") Program in the amount of $250,179, collectively "Programs," in the forms attached as (Exhibit 1), relating to implementation of Broward County's Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan ("AAP") (October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026) and Fiscal Year 2025-2029 five-year Consolidated Plan (“CP”) (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2029), approved by HUD (Exhibit 2); to revise funding allocations and/or project service deliverables under the AAP for various grant Programs in accordance with the Broward County five-year Consolidated Plan ("CP"); and authorize County Administrator to execute agreements, and/or reinstatements and amendments to existing subrecipient agreements, subject to approval as to legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney, and to take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions for implementation of the various grant Programs, including, but not limited to, the HUD grant agreement(s), amendments to the HUD grant agreements, subrecipient agreements, amendments, reinstatements, project/activity priorities and budgetary changes in accordance with the CP and AAP, and interlocal agreements for funding of the respective grant Programs, including any prior year program income, subject to review and approval as to legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney.
B. MOTION TO AUTHORIZE County Administrator to take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions to appropriate and implement Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) revenue funds in the amount of $4,501,299 (as identified in the amended AAP), and represents $522,340 in unanticipated program income estimated in the Action Plan, of which a maximum of 20% may be administrative funds, based on the recommendations, and authorize County Administrator to execute agreements, and/or amendments to existing subrecipient agreements to allocate the funds, subject to approval as to legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney (Exhibit 2).
C. MOTION TO AUTHORIZE County Administrator to take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions to appropriate and implement Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Home Investment Partnerships Program Grant (HOME) revenue funds in the amount of $4,223,115 (as identified in the amended AAP) and represents $225,034 in unanticipated program income estimated in the Action Plan, of which a maximum of 10% may be administrative funds, based on the recommendations, and authorize County Administrator to execute agreements, and/or amendments to existing subrecipient agreements to allocate the funds, subject to approval as to legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney (Exhibit 2).
D. MOTION TO AUTHORIZE County Administrator to take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions to appropriate and implement Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) revenue funds in the amount of $250,179 (as identified in the AAP), of which a maximum of 7% may be administrative funds, based on the recommendations, and authorize County Administrator to execute agreements, and/or amendments to existing subrecipient agreements to allocate the funds, subject to approval as to legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney (Exhibit 2).
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Why Action is Necessary
Motion A: Board action is required to authorize the County Administrator to execute HUD grant funding agreements for implementation of Broward County's Fiscal Year 2025-2026 AAP Grants (Exhibit 1)
Motions B, C and D: Board action is required to authorize the County Administrator to recognize and appropriate funds and adopt budget Resolutions for implementation of the AAP; and take all other administrative and budgetary actions necessary to implement the plan (Exhibit 2).
What Action Accomplishes
Motion A: Action authorizes the County Administrator to execute the HUD grant funding agreements for implementation of Broward County's Fiscal Year 2025/2026 various grant Programs and take all other administrative and budgetary actions necessary to implement the plans (Exhibits 1).
Motions B, C and D: Actions authorize the County Administrator to recognize and appropriate funds for implementation of the AAP; revise funding allocations and/or project deliverables under the AAP for the various grant Programs in accordance with the Broward County five-year CP; and take all other administrative and budgetary actions necessary to implement the plans (Exhibit 2).
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Previous Action Taken
None taken.
Summary Explanation/Background
THE PUBLIC WORKS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE HOUSING AND URBAN PLANNING DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTIONS.
This item supports the Board's value: "Ensuring residents have an affordable place to live by offering sustainable, compatible, innovative, accessible, affordable housing options for all income levels, including integrated, permanent supportive housing and zoning that helps residents build equity.”
MOTIONS A and B: CDBG Program
Broward County will receive CDBG funding in the amount of $3,978,959 on behalf of its unincorporated areas, the Broward County entitlement municipalities of Coconut Creek, Margate, and Weston, which joined the Urban County as participants in Fiscal Year 2021/2022, and the 15 participating cities with populations under 50,000, which include Cooper City, Dania Beach, Hallandale Beach, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Lauderdale Lakes, Lazy Lake, Lighthouse Point, North Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Parkland, Pembroke Park, Sea Ranch Lakes, Southwest Ranches, West Park, and Wilton Manors. Entitlement municipalities with populations in excess of 50,000 that have not joined the Urban County receive their own direct funding allocations from HUD. Most grant funds received by the County are reallocated back to the 15 participating cities to address their respective priorities. Additionally, the County received a total of $522,340 in program income (PI) derived from the CDBG Program included in the Annual Action Plan (AAP) (Exhibits 1 and 2).
The total CDBG funding including the program income is $4,501,299. In addition to coordinating with the Broward County participating municipalities that receive a formula-based portion of the CDBG allocation, the County attempts to set aside available CDBG funds for non-profit organizations. If set-aside funds are available, they are announced and disbursed through the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) Request for Proposals process.
MOTIONS A and C: HOME Program
Broward County will receive HOME funding in the amount of $3,998,081 on behalf of Broward County, the HOME Consortium Lead Entity, and the 11 participating HOME Consortium municipalities, which include Coconut Creek, Coral Springs, Davie, Deerfield Beach, Lauderhill, Margate, Miramar, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, Sunrise, and Tamarac. The creation of a HOME Consortium is required by HUD for the County and the municipalities to receive HOME funding. Additionally, the County received $225,034 in program income derived from County and HOME Consortium municipalities, for reallocation to municipalities and/or other County eligible HOME Projects and/or activities, to include administrative and direct service costs. The total HOME funding including the estimated program income is $4,223,115 (Exhibits 1 and 2). The municipalities of Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, and Hollywood each receive their own HOME funding allocations directly from HUD.
The County will also be administering and implementing the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 HOME funds for the City of Coconut Creek, the City of Coral Springs, the City of Margate, the City of Plantation, the City of Sunrise and the Town of Davie.
The HOME Program grant requires that 15% of the HOME funding allocation be set aside for nonprofit Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDO’s). This allocation is also announced and allocated/awarded through the annual Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) process.
MOTIONS A and D: ESG Program
Broward County will receive ESG funding in the amount of $250,179 to address homelessness and homeless prevention activities. HUD requires a minimum allocation percentage towards rapid-rehousing activities.
Funding under the ESG Program is recommended in accordance with HUD eligibility category requirements. ESG funding for the emergency shelter and street outreach categories is limited to a maximum of 60% of the grant, and the remaining funds must be allocated to the Rapid Rehousing category. The Continuum of Care Advisory Committee priorities are also taken into consideration when funding recommendations are made.
There is a limited pool of qualified ESG agencies that can provide the Case Management and ESG prevention components required to implement the rapid re-housing activity, therefore the rapid re-housing project/activity will be implemented in partnership with the Housing Options Solutions & Supports Division (HOSSD), formerly FSAD/FSS. The remaining ESG funds are announced and allocated through the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) Request for Proposals process.
Non-formula HOME and ESG
The annual NOFA process is used to distribute/Award EGS and HOME CHDO funds that are not part of the participating/Urban County and/or consortium cities’ formula-based allocation.
Organizations being recommended for funding under the HOME, and ESG Programs were part of the NOFA process. Applications received are evaluated by committees consisting of Housing and Urban Planning Division (HUPD) staff and municipal staff who are practitioners in the planning, housing, and the community development fields. Projects are usually recommended for full funding based on their evaluation scores, until the available funds are exhausted.
HOME CHDO
Unfortunately, there is a limited pool of qualified Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs) that are certified and can implement the HOME CHDO funds
There was only one application submitted for the HOME CHDO funding allocation availability. The application was determined to be responsive and the HUPD is recommending award to the South Florida Community Land Trust.
ESG
There was only one application received for the remaining ESG allocation. The application was determined to be responsive and HUPD is recommending award to Broward Partnership for Homeless, Inc.
Some of the allocations and program income funding amounts have been rounded.
Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Annual Action Plan Projected Beneficiary Summary
The projects in the AAP provide for rehabilitation of a minimum of 34 single family homes (31 CDBG and three HOME); purchase assistance to a minimum of 35 first time home buyers (six CDBG and 29 HOME); affordable housing acquisition/rehabilitation of four units; Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) to approximately 12 households; assistance to 756 beneficiaries in projects related to public services, including, but not limited to housing counseling, senior transportation, youth leadership, and providing supportive services for special needs and; construction of various infrastructure improvements to benefit approximately 10,170 residents, including but not limited to, park improvements, ADA/barrier free improvements, and sewer and drainage improvements in low/moderate income neighborhoods; rapid re-housing services assistance to a minimum of eight homeless residents; and emergency shelter and support services to 750 individuals experiencing homelessness.
The HUPD received HUD’s notice of grant allocations for Fiscal Year 2025/2026 in May 2025. The notice provided the County’s total overall allocations for the CDBG, ESG and HOME grants, however, the notice does not provide the detailed breakdown of which city receives what amount (applicable to the entitlement cities part of the urban county and HOME consortium entitlement cities). These allocations are generated by the HUD. The HUD total allocation and the detailed breakdown are used in preparation of the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Annual Action Plan (AAP) and the Development of the five-year consolidated plan (which projects the remaining four years, based on this year’s allocations, needs assessment and priority goals). The HUPD did not receive the HOME allocation breakdown until August 2025. To meet the HUD deadline of August 16, 2025, while adhering to the strict regulatory requirements, including citizen participation and multiple comment periods, the HUPD projected the HOME funding breakdown using this Fiscal Year’s total allocation and applied last year’s formula percentages breakdown provided by HUD. The HUD Annual Action Plan (AAP) and five-year Consolidated Plan (CP) was completed, meeting all the regulatory requirements by the HUD deadline of August 16, 2025; however, it was not possible to update the HOME allocation breakdown nor take these items to the Board by June 17, 2025, meeting, the last meeting before the Board’s summer recess. The Board’s first scheduled meeting was on August 21, 2025, after the HUD submission deadline of August 16, 2025. Failure to submit by the August 16, 2025, deadline could have resulted in the automatic loss of all the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 funding. For that reason, in order to meet HUD's submittal deadline of August 16, 2025, the County Administrator, pursuant to authority under Section 20.31 of the Broward County Administrative Code, approved the submission to HUD of the Broward County Fiscal Year 2025-2029 five-year CP and the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 AAP incorporated in the five-year CP (Exhibit 2) during the Board’s 2025 summer recess.
The HUPD updated the Consortium cities’ HOME Allocation breakdown in the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 AAP incorporated into the five-year CP (Exhibit 2), and it resulted in non-substantial changes, which do not require additional notices or public comment periods.
The AAP includes the proposed activities for Fiscal Year 2025/2026 for the CDBG, HOME, and ESG Programs and Program Income.
Source of Additional Information
Darby P. Delsalle, AICP, Division Director, 954-357-9792.
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
No Fiscal Impact.